The fire originated and was mostly contained to the second story of the building, Crossman said, and damage was quite extensive.

While the building was vacant, Crossman said he was unsure if the building had electrical services or not. Power crews were on the scene following the fire to remove lines running to the building.

Not far from this morning's fire, another vacant building burned down under suspicious circumstances on November 25, leaving the couple rennovating that LaPlanche Street home without any recourse and displacing a home-business neighbouring the scene of the fire. Crossman said it wouldn't be fair to say the two are connected at this point and more investigation needs to be done.

Members of the Amherst Police Department presently investigating the fire reported in a press release Monday afternoon no power was running to the building at the time of the fire and are calling it suspicious.

"This is the second suspicious house fire in the past seven weeks," the statement from the department reads. "A fire at 42 LaPlanche Street was deemed to be an act of arson and remains under investigation."

Anyone with any information is asked to conacct the Amherst Police Department at 667-8600 or Crimsteoppers at 1-800-222-8477.